Slow Movement

With all the hustle and bustle of everyday life, time can seem like it’s passing you by. You may have noticed that everyday moments seem to be fleeting and your mind is constantly occupied by what’s happening next, whether that means worrying about upcoming deadlines or rushing through activities in order to move on to the next one. Living a fast-paced life can lead to unhappiness, unfulfillment, imbalance, and stress, which can manifest as health issues, everything from tight muscles to trouble sleeping, or even heart conditions. Additionally, this way of living doesn’t allow you to connect meaningfully with the people and activities that play an important role in your life. Picking up fast food and eating on the go doesn’t yield the same benefits as a home-cooked meal shared with friends and family. The slow movement encourages you to take time to slow down and practice mindfulness with everything that you do. This involves paying attention to the present moment and enjoying it as much as possible.

The slow movement was inspired by Carlo Petrini’s protest against the opening of a McDonald’s restaurant in Piazza di Spagna, Rome in 1986. The fast food restaurant was not welcomed by many Italians who feared for the integrity of their culinary heritage and traditions which have existed for centuries. Petrini’s protests resulted in the slow food movement, which celebrates and encourages the connection between people and their food. This includes preserving traditional methods of food production and acquisition such as local farms and markets. Consumers are encouraged to buy directly from local sources in order to establish meaningful relationships with farmers, support their community, and gain knowledge about where their food is coming from. The slow movement has also been applied to many other aspects of culture. The slow cities movement, called Citta Slow, values traditional ways of living that support communities in their efforts to live slowly. This includes ensuring traffic flow does not interrupt the daily lives of community members, optimizing the use of space within a city, and ensuring that quality food is accessible to all. Cities must fulfil the criteria outlined by Citta Slow in order to qualify as a Slow City.

The concept of slowing down one’s life can also be applied to travel, parenting, clothing, education, and so much more! Introducing slowness into your life doesn’t have to be difficult. Simply spending more time engaging with and being guided by your surroundings helps you to connect with what is going on around you. Next time you book a vacation, skip the guided tours and city hopping and choose to “live” in your destination instead! Book a rental house and let yourself explore the area for a prolonged period of time. Similarly, in response to the helicopter parent phenomenon, let your children engage with their surroundings by themselves and at their own pace. Take some time to assess the aspects of your life that could benefit from some slowness and experience the enjoyment that results from connecting meaningfully with your life.

All about the slow movement

Carl Honore’s podcast on putting slow into action